RAPID CITY - After the first day of the state Class AA golf championship at Meadowbrook Golf Course, the leader board looks like a who's who in prep golf.

Taking advantage of a "lift, clean and place" rule accommodation made necessary by overnight showers, three golfers shot 75s in the cool and breezy conditions.

Included in the three-some were 2007 defending champion Marc Gubbels, of Yankton; teammate Jordan Mueller, a third-place finisher in 2007; and Sturgis junior Kyle Kopplin, a recent medalist at the West River Challenge.

Also near the lead with a first round 77 was last year's runner-up Kyle Cooper, of Sioux Falls Washington who shared his fourth place standing with Rapid City Stevens' team leader Brogan Pappel and Watertown freshman Nick Gottsleben.

Another shot back (78) are Curry Kuehl and Seth Stadel, of Pierre, and Tyler Frick, of Yankton. Five others golfers were bunched at 79 with Clay Kopplin, of Sturgis, another shot back at 80. Other local golfers who fared well on the first day include Josh Pappel (83) and Shane O'Brien (85). Rapid City Central was led by Trevor Kautzman with an 85.

Kopplin was excited to have earned his way into Tuesday's final pairing.

"I got a little lucky today," Kopplin said. "I made a lot of nice 4- to 8-foot par putts and chipped well when I needed to in order to keep my round together. The pins today were easy I thought. I expect the course tomorrow to be five shots tougher."

Brogan Pappel attributed his first round 77 to steady play.

"I made a lot of putts, particularly par putts when I needed to, couldn't make birdie putts but made pars when I had to. I'm satisfied with a 77 in these conditions. (Tuesday) I just need to keep my head together and put it in the fairway."

In the team race, Yankton totaled 311 strokes for the day, seven shots better than defending champion Sioux Falls Washington (318). Three other teams remain in contention - Watertown (319), Pierre (324), and Aberdeen Central (325). Stevens finished the day in sixth with a 333.

Stevens coach Phil Hunt was disappointed in his team's play.

"I really thought that with the home course advantage, great weather and good competition we would have played a little better. This course will do that to you.

If you get a little down on yourself, you will pay. I do think that we still have a good round in us and I'm hoping it's (Tuesday)."